“Before you start questioning me,” he said, “you should know that I won’t betray the children. All I care about is helping them.”
Rendor suddenly laughed. “That girl! She paints me as quite a monster, doesn’t she? Go on, then—protect her from me, Captain. Keep your secrets. Whatever my granddaughter and the boy have told you is meaningless anyway. Neither of them have any idea what’s going on.”
The old man opened the mahogany box and chose a cigar. From the pocket of his waistcoat he produced an exquisite gold lighter, lit the cigar, and drew in a puff of sweet smelling smoke. His eyes closed with enjoyment; his brow wrinkled with thought.
“Have you seen the Avatar?” he asked.
Skyhigh nodded. “Yes,” he replied. “I’ve seen her. Why?”
“What do you think of her? The truth, Captain. What do you really think of her?”
“She’s marvelous,” Skyhigh admitted. “Is that why you brought the other governors here? To show them the Avatar?”
“Partially. But there was something else I wanted to show them as well. Something that once belonged to your friend Leroux.” Rendor held the cigar smoke in his mouth, tasting it. “Do you know to what I’m referring?”
“No, I don’t,” said Skyhigh, because he truly had no idea what Leroux’s gift had been. Now, it seemed, Moth had found it.
“The boy didn’t speak to you about it?” Rendor pressed.
Skyhigh didn’t blink. “No. Never.”
Rendor smiled. “I don’t believe you, Captain Coralin. Whatever you think of me, it will go better for both of them if you tell me what you know. It might make it easier to find them.”
“Find them?”
“Of course. The boy has taken something that belongs to me. Now I have to get it back.” Behind the veil of cigar smoke, Rendor’s eyes were searching. “Skyhigh,” he said, testing the name. “Maybe we’re not so different. Both of us dream of flying with the birds. Only I’m too old to pilot a dragonfly. It’s airships for me, but it’s not the same.”
For a moment the tension between them disappeared. Rendor actually looked sad.
“But you’ve been up there with the birds, the clouds,” said Skyhigh. “You know what it’s like. It can’t really be described.”
“Truly, the world’s a different place from up there,” agreed Rendor. “It is mankind’s birthright to fly. I’ve always believed that. I tell you, Captain, we are born to it, like the birds themselves. Why else would God put such a desire in the hearts of men? Children look up at the sky and they want wings. They want to touch the face of God.”
“Yes,” Skyhigh sighed. “That’s how it was for me. I was fifteen when I saw my first dragonfly at an exhibition. You used to run those, remember?”
Rendor’s face lit up. “There were always lots of children at those shows.”
“That’s the first time I ever saw you,” Skyhigh confessed. “I thought you were God then. Nothing else mattered to me after that. All I wanted to do was fly.”
“Major Hark says you’re his best pilot,” said Rendor. “Brash, he told me, but a natural talent. It takes a natural talent to control a dragonfly. Not everyone can master it.”
“I have,” said Skyhigh. “There aren’t many things I do well, but I can fly the hell out of a dragonfly.”
“Good,” Rendor observed. “Now you’re being honest with me. I think this will work.”
“What?” asked Skyhigh. “What will work?”
Rendor put down his cigar on the edge of the table, so that the ashes were just about to fall on the carpet. “Moth and my granddaughter have gone through the Reach. I wonder—have you any comprehension of what that means?”
“Not really. I know that it’s forbidden…”
“Forbidden, yes, and for good reason. By going through the Reach they risk the ire of the Skylords.”
Skyhigh held back a laugh. “The Skylords again? Governor, that fairy tale might frighten people back in Capital City, but not me.”
With a face like thunder, Rendor said, “I didn’t bring you here for your opinions, Captain. Your opinion of the Skylords is as dust to me.”
“Why did you bring me here?” snapped Skyhigh. “You kept me waiting for two days while you wined and dined your friends. And now you’re gushing on about flying while Moth and Fiona are in trouble. I would have thought you’d show a little more interest in your granddaughter, instead of complaining about what you say Moth stole from you.”
“And you claim to know nothing about what he stole! Do you expect me to believe that?”
“Governor, it doesn’t matter to me what you believe.” Skyhigh stood up, determined to leave. “All I care about is those kids, even if you don’t. Now, either charge me with a crime or let me get out of here.”
Rendor rose from his chair, picked up his cigar, and walked over to the window. “Captain, I need your help.”
“My help? You’re kidding, right?”
“We’re going after them,” said Rendor. “You, me, and the crew of the Avatar. We’re going through the Reach. We’re taking a scout ship, too. And the best pilot I can find.” The old man puffed on his cigar. “That’s you, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but…” Skyhigh groped for an explanation. “Why?”
“Captain, haven’t you been listening?” asked Rendor. He turned from the window with a frown. “To get back what’s mine.”
A STRANGER
THEIR TINY FIRE HAD LONG died out by the time Moth and Fiona fell asleep. In the nook by the river, Moth felt safe enough to dream. They were good dreams, mostly, about his birthday and Leroux, and how he’d never cared about the Reach before his troubles started. He awoke briefly to find Fiona sleeping next to him. Lady Esme had tucked herself against Fiona to keep both of them warm. Seeing them put a tired smile on Moth’s face as he drifted back to sleep.
It might have been a minute later or an hour—Moth couldn’t tell—when he awoke to the sound of crunching branches. Supposing it an animal, he opened his eyes expecting to see a looming tiger or bear. He held his breath, his eyes adjusting to the darkness, and saw the outline of a man standing over him.
Moth gasped and scrambled back, startling Fiona awake. Her scream sent Esme flying.
“No!” hushed the man. A finger shot to his lips. “Quiet!”
Moth and Fiona staggered to their feet. Head swimming, Moth peered through the darkness as he grabbed Fiona’s hand. “Who are you?” he demanded. “We’re not alone. If you harm us…”
The man squatted down and held up his hands. Moth’s sleepy eyes could barely make him out. “No harm, no harm,” he said quickly. “Don’t be afraid.”
“What do you want?” hissed Fiona. “We don’t have anything to take.”
Moth saw a grin open on the stranger’s face. “I’m not here to rob you, girl. No, no. I’m a friend, here to help…”
He spoke quickly, too quickly for Moth’s drowsy brain. All Moth knew was that he looked unsavory. “Go on!” Moth ordered. “Leave us alone! The others will be back soon. If they catch you here…”
The man cackled. “Am I an idiot, boy? I didn’t know that!” He stood up, the moonlight catching his weathered hat, its wide brim shadowing his grizzled face. “You’re alone. I know you are because I’ve been watching you.”
Fiona let go of Moth’s hand and stepped toward the stranger. “Watching us? Why? I’m the granddaughter of Governor Rendor. If anything happens to me you’ll—”
“No!” said the man, covering his ears. “No names! The less I hear the better for us all.”